Stories about East Asia from December, 2013
Debate on the Translation of Christmas into Chinese
Ann O'Donnell explains the debate about the translation of Christmas, whether it should be “holy birth festival” or “Jesus birth festival”. For those advocating for the rectification of the Chinese translation, believe that the expression “holy birth festival”, which also means “the Sage’s birth festival” should designate Confucius’ birthday.
Victim of China's One-Child-Policy, 7-year-old Boy Plans Revenge
As a result of one-child policy, many children do not have proper government-issued identification and documentation and are deprived of rights to free education and other social services. A recent report on the problem of undocumented children included an interview with a 7-year-old boy who said when he grows up...
Chinese University Professor’s Resignation Letter Censored
One day after professor Chen Hongguo posted his resignation letter on Weibo that has triggered hot discussion on academic freedom in China on December 23, 2013, his letter was deleted. A search on professor Chen's name on Sina Weibo shows the following message: 根据相关法律法规和政策，“谌洪果”搜索结果未予显示。 According to relevant regulations and policies, search results...
South Korean Military Bans ‘Arirang’, Country's Iconic and Beloved Song
South Korean Military is infamous for banning books, films and songs which they find ‘controversial’ or ‘subversive’ and their recent decision to ban the nation's most beloved and historically important songs, ‘Arirang’ (which even has the famed nickname of ‘unofficial national anthem of Korea‘) met with fierce backlash. The military explains it...
7 Things You Didn't Know About Japanese Food
Global Voices contributor Taylor Cazella, who recently moved from the US to Japan, introduces seven unexpected yet tasty foods from non-traditional Japanese cuisine.
Are Volunteer Programs Empowering — or Exploitative?
Let's ask the volunteers to find out! In many countries, volunteers fulfill important basic services for governments and charities.
7 Rallies that Rocked Southeast Asia in 2013
Several Southeast Asian governments were confronted with big street protests in 2013. In Thailand, street protesters are still actively pushing for the ouster of the incumbent government
Podcast: Contemporary Art in China
Sinica podcast discusses contemporary art scene in China, including what it means to be a Chinese artist in today's China and how different things have changed in the past 20 years.
China’s Environmental News in 2013
chinadialogue looks back at the major Chinese environmental news stories from 2013: toxic water in China's northern city Handan, thousands of dead pigs in Shanghai River, and the severe air pollution. They also explored why the year of 2013 is an environmental disaster for China.
Video:Mo Money, Mo Fazhan
Laowai Style's Jesse Appell addresses the question about China's economic development with his new rap song “Mo Money, Mo Fazhan(Development)”. The rap cover topics ranging from urbanization, to hukou reform, SOEs, and tainted milk powder. Watch the video below.
Jon Stewart's Satire on China's Moon Landing Causes a Sensation
Jon Stewart mocked China’s space race, suggesting it was outdated and pointless on “The Daily Show” on Dec. 16. Chinese netizens and news agencies shared the video on the Twitter-like Weibo, quickly attracting numerous netizens watching and commenting. The majority of commenters find the funny and the host is nicknamed as...
PHOTOS: Brutal Crackdown by 4,000 South Korean Police is Epic Failure
Over 4,000 South Korean riot police broke into the headquarter of the nation's 2nd largest trade union center without a search warrant, angering South Korean net users.
Chinese University Professor Quits to Seek Academic Freedom
"I want to be responsible for my own life. The only thing you can change is yourself."
After 44 Years, Southeast Asian Games Return to Myanmar
Myanmar citizens are happy with their country's hosting of the Southeast Asian games. Netizens also tried to explain the minor riot that took place during one of the games.
10 Global Haiyan Relief Efforts That Touched Filipino Hearts
Small and big acts of kindness around the world have inspired typhoon survivors in the Philippines
38 Million Chinese Abandon Pension Insurance
The falling number of people with insurance has revealed serous problems in China’s pension system.
PHOTOS: Protesting South Korea's Election Manipulation in New York, Paris, London
South Koreans living abroad held candlelight vigils in New York, Paris and London this weekend, accusing the government bodies' manipulation of the latest presidential election
Popularizing the Hmong Qeej Musical Instrument through YouTube
Catherine Falk studied how Chinese and Laotian Hmong diaspora groups maximized the YouTube to preserve and popularize their culture, in particular the playing of qeej, an iconic Hmong reed mouth organ.
South Korea: Class-action Suit Against Key Players of Election Manipulation
Marking a year after the latest presidential election tainted with allegations of political tampering, attorney Han Woong, together with 610 plaintiffs, filed a civil lawsuit [ko] against those who are allegedly responsible for the election manipulation scandal. Han accused ex-President Lee Myung-bak, former head of the NIS (National Intelligence Service), ex-Commissioner of the Seoul...
South Korean Education Ministry Discourages Students’ Poster Movement
As South Korean university students’ ‘We Are Not Fine!’ poster movement spreads like wildfire across the country, even up to the point of motivating high, junior high and elementary students [ko] to write their own, the Ministry of Education has given notice to schools to control students’ poster-making in order...
The Postcolonialist Calls for Submissions on ‘Sites of Home’
A recently launched online magazine and journal, The Postcolonialist, is calling for submissions for the upcoming edition of its academic journal. The Postcolonialist is an inter-disciplinary, multi-lingual publication featuring research, commentary, and creative production from and about postcolonial regions and perspectives. The About page of the website adds: We are an alternative and interactive avenue by which scholars, journalists, writers...
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